Shock absorber



. Sept. 23. L930.

| L. LOMAR 1,776,388

SHOCK ABSORBER Filed May 19, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 23, 1930. L. LOMAR sHocK nsomam Filed May 19, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet Sept. 23, 1930. L, L; L' MAR 1,776,388

SHOCK ABSORBER Filed May 19, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept. 23, 1930. 1.. L. LOMAR 1,776,388

SHOCK ABSORBER Filed May 19, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 W 1 T qm ,0 s

i Patented Sept. 23 1930 am l; ABSORBER Application filed I May' 19,

V This invention relates to shock absorbers adapted for use on automobiles andthe like andhas for its general objectthe provision of certain improvements on the shock ab- :5sorbers coveredby my Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,621,261'0f March 15th.

1927-,-an 1 No. 1,635,284 of'July 12th, 1927;

and my pending application for Letters Pat' 7 ent of the United States, filed AuguStQGth,

1.1926, SerialNo. 131,684.; g a "I Hydraulic shock absorbers now in use "embody means adjustable to vary their resist--v ance to the compression'and to the rebound ofa vehicle spring. Butthesaidmeans is enot so adjustable that their compression re- -sistance can bevaried without varying their rebound resistance, or vice versa and it is frequently imposslble to make one of the said resistances the deslred amount with rezg' spect to the other. For example, if a shock absorber is to be used on a car having a heavy body and weak springs, its compression resistance should bemade great to prevent a I too' sudden and too great compression, and mini-its rebound resistance, small to p6IIIl1tl/lle' controlled spring to resume its normal position. And if it is to be usedon a light car equipped with strong springs, its compres sion resistance should be'made small, and

so -its rebound resistance great.

This invention has for one of-its specific objects the provision of new and improved the' saidadjustableemeans to vary each'of' resistancesindependently of'the other.

vehicle, springs. Their proper functionis to control only greator abnormal movements. And this inventionhas for another ea iof its specific objects the provision of new" and improved means to insure this function.

A further object of the invention is to pro-- videfnew and improved valvesbietween the two chambers of hydraulic shock absorbers of the type disclosed by my pending appliwhich are illustrative .of the preferred em-.

3}: Shock absorbers should offer practically no V resistance to slight .or normalmovements of 19 2 8. S e riaLNo. 275,071.,

bodiments of the invention, Fig 1 is a sidev elevation ofthe shock absorber operatively interposed between aiframemember and an [axle ofa vehicle; Fig. 2, a vertical sectional" view of-the shock absorber; Fig. 3, a partly sectional "top plan vieW;*Figs. {and 5,2horizontal sections on the lines 44' and'55, respectively; of Fig."1;'-Figs.6'and 7 detail Louis; L. LOMAR, orfnonsron,rnxassssrcnoaonrona mnrnn on12: nniqinmairr11s I TO.THE.HQUSTQN'COMPANY, or rronsron, TEXAS, A CORPORATION or TEXAS;

views of thcvalves'adapted to be disposed between the two'cham'bers of: the casing, the

former beinga vertical sectional view and the-latteriatop plan; Figs. 8' and stews; 1

similar to'Figs'G and 7, offthev spring for said valve; Figs. 10 'and'11 enlarged, fragmentary, sectionalelcvationsoftheadjust able 'valvesin different positions the piston: being shown fragmentarily; Figs. 12 and 13, enlarged? fragmentary on the lines 12++12 and 1 3l3, respectively,

ofFigflO; Figs. 14 and '15,"enlarged1fragmentary horizontal sections on the'lines 14':14 and '1515, respectively, of Fig 11;

16, ,aJmodified formcfth'e outer adjustable valve; and 17, a modified form of the-"valves between the two'chambers of the casing. i i The shock absorber illustratedby the horizontal sections drawings embodies certain elements of a 5 general type common in hydraulic shock ab- .sorber's, and these elements andtheir tions will: at" first be described. i

Referring 'to Fig.1, the numeral 5 'inclicates the casing of the shockabsorber' which may be mounted on the vehicle frame member 1 by means of bolts 2; The operating lever 3 may beconnected to the axle 4, as shown.

Referring toFigs. 2 and3, it will be ob- Servedthat thelever 3 has a shaft 4 jour-r Cnalled-for rotation in the. upper end of the casing5,the said shaft having an arm 6 locked thereonby the pin 7 the arm 6 and thG'ihOllOW plug 8 having forked projecting ends, in which the link9'is held by suitable pins 9 and-9 The lever3 is thus connected to-the hollow piston'rod 10, carrying the piston 11 which is reciprocable in the lower chamber'12. of the casi g 5. J j The partition plate 14, bolted between the i adjacent. annular flanges of the two sections l 5 and5 of'the casing 5,.as shown, and having l l l therein.

The'hollow piston rod lOhas a port19 a centrally disposed sleeve 15 to hold suitable packing 16 about the piston rod 10, divides the casingfi into the two chambers 12 and 13L The valves 17 permit the downward and prevent the upward ,movem'ent of fluid thru the: openings 18' in said plate.

Supported by the lower end of th section 5 a-tubular valve 20 extends npwardlythru the piston ll and into the hollow piston rod l-Oiand has-a longitudinalslot 21 therein above the piston 11.

'When the device is-filled with fluid-,preferably oil, and operatively interposedfbetween the frame member 1 andzthe axle 4 ofa ve-.

hicle, "it resists" sudden: movement of said I member towardrsaid axle because the lever 3 must be rotated in an anti-clockwise direc-r tion'on its pivot 4, and the piston 11 moved downwardlyin thelchamber 12..and down-= ward movement of the piston 11 is dependent upon the escapeof fluid from below said.

piston :thru the slot 21 and such escape is progressively limited It willbe understood that upon downward movement of the piston theflu'id passing through the .slot 21 moves upwardly into the" hollow piston" rod 10, a

portion ofiit escaping through the port 19 into chamber :12 above the piston,- and the P remainder escaping through the hollow plug 8 into the chamber 13 andthence throughthe f valvedopenings 18' into the chamber 12 above";

the piston. The valves17 [open to permit movement of fluid'from the chamber 13 to the chamber 12;

Sudden movement ofthe vehicle frame memberl away from the vehicle axle Al, upon therrebound ofthe spring, is resistedlbecause I the lever 3' must be rotated in a clockwise direction and the piston 11 moved upwardly, and 'as'thef valves:17 Y close and trap the fluid in the chamber 12 above said piston, theupwardpmovement of said piston is dependent uponthe escape of: fluid-thru the port-19 of piston rod 10 and1theslot21o'f valve 2( andthenceby the valve 17 into Thevnve, 20may beiso adjusted as to partially closethe the passage of fluid thru said portn 50 o The adjustment referred to 'n 'the'imme'di ately. preceding" paragraph hasynor practical efiect upon the resistance offered to the downward. movement'rof the piston, that'is; toithe movement-v'toward'each other of the frame 'member and the *aXle; because said adjust" in'ent does not obstru t the passageof fluid throughslotfll, and fluid'may, therefore enter the hollow piston rod 1O,pass out throughi'the hollowplug 8 into the chamber ber 12 above thepiston 11;

Some similar device'siembod'y means -ad-l justable-toicontrol the movement of the piston-in both directi0ns5 but not either direction independently of the other? e casing '"the resistance offered to thedownward'niove portx19 and thereby'regulate the chain- As pointed out in the introductory remarks above, the resistances offeredv by a shock absorber to the compression of a vehicle spring 7 and to the rebound thereof shouldbe independently'variable so that the shock absorber ma be a plied to an vehiclere ardless of its weight and the' relative;strength of'its springs. v 1 s The new and improvednieans provided by this invention; will now bedescribed'.

The preferred embodiment of the presentinvention includes the valve 20 to control the i passageotfiuid throughl'the port 19 and thereby vary the resistanceofleredto the upward movement of the piston, andconse-r quently the vrebound of the vehicle spring;

and another valve 28 to"control the passage of fluid through the slot 21' andth ere'by vary merit ofthe'piston, and consequentlythe compression of the vehicle spring; the said 1 valve gs being in dependently and nicely adjnstable to accomplish setforth.-"' v: I

The lowerend 2 3 of the valve 20 extends thru the bottom of thecasing section 5*" and a the desired results. hereini is; adjustably held in place the nut 32 V threadedin the annular flange on sa d sec-i tion, a'packing washer 25abeing interposed": 45: d

between said. nut and the flange: 26 "of valve.

{The reduced lower end30 o:t-the valve28w' extends'thru the-lower endofthe valve 2Q and is adjust-ably held in place by the" V i I ing interposed between saidvalves, as shown."

31 screwed thereon a suitable washer 82 be- These valves are, by the means just dew scribed, independently adjusta may be varied'by changing the positions off.

theslo'ts 21 and 29 with respect to each other 016. twill be obvious that the resistance oiiercd to thedownwardmovementofthe piston 11- and thus regulating the escape of fiuid fro-1n below thepiston 11. This adjustmentmay a" be effected, as illustrated by Figgs. 10 to 15 withoutvarying the resistance offered to the upwardinovement of the piston.

in all. or;

these figures, theadjustment 0f the'valve'20 with res'l'aec'ttotheipiston rodl(),'and there 11sv fore the adjustment of the sl'ot'21; with re- Should itlbe desired to vary the resistance to the upward movement. of the piston 11; it

is necessary only to -rotate the valve 20 so.

that theport 19 is'more or lessdosed, And the valve 28smaybe so rotated with the valve V that the re'sistanceito the diovvnward move mentofthe piston will reniaintl1.esaanr:=

er's may be adjusted for varioussuses on-any1 automobile It is therefore:unnecessaryto makethem-in-diiierent isizes'for difi'erentcars. l I The valves 20 and 28 pointers 33 and 34"; respectively,to-indicate the positions of the slots; 21 F and 29. and the:

may be provided with port -l. 9-- 'Withrespecti'togeaeh others; U .7

This invention also 'provides-aafshocle absorber embodying newiandrimprovedemeansr whereby: it ofierspractically nof resistanceto sl ght or normal Jmovementsof aw'vehiclei.

' I 5* springg'but.controlssgreatior abnormal move 7 IIIQIltS thereof; 7

.Thenormal position-Tot theapistoni 1'1 is substantially intermediate theiends of the slots 21, and 29v by: 11. New itWill; be observedwthat themi dd'le portions 21 and 29 of: the slots 1 QI-and'29, respeetively,iareeof a. great width, of: themiddle portion x 21 are substantially-parallel toeach other,- a

This; position i is indicated and, tliat the; side Walls afa regthe ;side walls; rot, the; middle? portion 29 4 Andwit ill-.benoted-that the-gsidewa-llsof lportionv. 21

I the, s'ideiwallsr otithe portion 29 The resist?- Walls, of the portion. being. inclined in-x Wardlyi and downwardlyiand one side vvall oi portion. 29 Ibeing-soinclined. H And so.

' ton, lli in: either.

r 21 1 and] 29? anceoffered to limited movements loft-the vpis= 1 directionfrom-tits normal position is,.,t herefore, quite. smallg as, during and 29%torm,

such movements, the portions 21 Wideavenuesjof escape-tenths; fluid (when pwardly) i V Onothebther; hand, greatresi'stahce i s ofs fer-eds to v abnormal, downward movement of the piston 11 because thelowermostfportions of the slots 21 and:v 29, respee v tively are abruptlylreoliiced andr thenstae peredtovvard the ends of said sl0ts,f the. side vvhenithe.pistonmoves downwardly an ab v noi-maldistizncei the portionsQlfi and;29% are covered and; the .fluid'gmust. escape. thrur. the,

abruptly" reduced: and tapered} lower. pore tions 21? and-2.9.

V The upper; portion.Qlhoflthdsloti Zl is also reduced by the, inclination ofii one of. its

' sidewalls andso'whensthe piston. moves Lip- 1 Wardly an 1 abnormal distance the port 19 ispartially, closed and thevv avenue of@ escape ofitlieffiuidithereby,obstructed,

v The resistance to abnormal downwardv movement ofthe piston 11. mayv be varied "Without appreeiably altering. the quite" small resistance {to normal movements thereof. vIn. 7 Figs. 10,- 12'and113, thelower portion Zl of the slot 2 1Y'is; unobstructed-Thy the valve .28 In Figs, 11, 14and.15,the.saidQportionQlP is: e 'ia f e e 'h e va ve l 2 e r are substantially: parallel'to.

ly thru said openingsi in none ofr these.- figures is; the middlenporj tion- 2l -ofu the slot 21; obstructed-w by" the:- :7 By the means desc1ibed ,--the: shockabsorb:

I equivalentsof the preferred embodiments just described will; at once occur to those skilled in-the art. Thus, Fig. 16 illustrates another form, in which the valve-is'providedl With? a i plurality of apertures 35; a the three:

centermostof which are ofa'n equal'diameter, aand the outermost of which are of smaller:

diameters decreasing outwardly. This valve,- like the other,

will cause little resistance to normalmovements of ax pistonand': 1 great resistance toabnormal movements 5;;

thereof; a i i i a The shock .absorbendisolosedby my said" pending application embodies valves to per mit. downward and prevent; upward. move ment of fluid through the openings insthe' 9oz? partition between the two chambers; off the casing: But the valves" just. referred: to: must be closed by the fluid, an'dias tliey*are not thereby closed immediately upon the initial return movementpf'the piston; apart a oi'the fluid'is permitted-to pass upward And When the fluid:

closes: them suddenly and I violently; the noise thereby made is objectionable;

The preferred embodiment of this in-vem 1 tion includes the valves- 17 fittingoini the groove 38 0f plate 14' andprov-id'ed Withlugs 3.6- adapted to fit in 'openings 37 in" said plate. I The roundeol'portiions39' of these valvesareshapeclf to fitiover the openings 18 1633; in said plate; andiformrecesses for the reception ofthepointed portions 42 of" spring 40.; a The "spring 40 also fits "Wit-lain 1 the groove 38 of the with lugs 361adaiptbdto-fit in said openings 1 re plate 14 andis'prov-i'cld" I i 37. This spring is supported by the lowermost Wall of the: groove 38 of the plate "14; When the piston moves d'ownward'lyand; tends to create a Vacuum in the ch amber 1'2 aboveit, the valves are opened against'illfiir the resistance of the spring 40 by the fluid-3Q moving from the chamber 13 through the openings "18 to the chamber 12, but" as soon as the piston: 11 has reached itslowermost position and beforeit begins its upward 121?. a movement the springs -40" =close: the -valves--17.

The obj ectionable escape of fluid -and noise above referred to :is therebyieliminated: modified'fform: of the valves jRIStTIEZ ferred to isdisclosed byaEigflTl In this form, the sleeve 15 has a pair of oppositely disposed lugs 43 thereon having. openings therein, through Which extend the I'OdSiM;

ofithe valves 45. v Springs 16 S81TYQl3OxI1QIlm-ally hold saidvalvesic losedtl I 1 T ;;sides oilsaid piston, means to control the pass sageiof fluid ntosa d rod when said p ston moves in one direction and meansltonontrol 1 This invention is not/limited to" the spe cific embodiments herein disclosed, and 'various changes may be'made without departure from thescope of the followingclai'ms. claiinzl ed to contain a fluid, a piston reciprocable in said casing, a hollow piston rod communicat mg 'Wlth the interior of the casing on both the passageiof fluid into said rodrwhens'a'id piston moves-in the'other direction, said ztwomeans being. adjustable independentlybf eachotheiflfi- 2; Ina shock absorber, a casing'gadapted tO COIItaIII a fluid, a piston reciprooable in. said casing, a hollow piston rod on; 011881616 10f saidpiston andjhaving a port' therein, and

, a pair, of tubular valves on the other side of a shock absorber, a easing adaptedto. contain a; fluid, a piston i eoipro'cable in said casing,;a-' hollow pistonrod-on one side i of said piston and having a port therein, and

a pair of tubular valves-on the. other side or said piston and extendinginto said rod, each of said valves having a longitudinalslot therein and being adjustable independently 'ofthe other, the slot in one of :said valves having "tapered end portions.

4; In a shock absorber, aacasing adapted" tocontain 'afluid, a pi'stonreciprocablein 7 said casing,a hollow piston rod onone side 1 of saidp ston and having a port thereimand a pair of tubular valves on the. other side of said piston and extending into said rod, each. ofsaid valves having a longitudinal slot.

therein and being adjustable independently ofthjeother, the slot in one of said valves "having an abruptly reduced end portion.

,5. A' shocl absorber havinga casing, av partitiondividing said casinginto a reservoir chamber, and a; piston chamber, a pistonreciprocable in said, piston chamber, a hollow piston-rod extendingfrom said piston to said 6 reservoir chamber, said rod having z-aport; in itsside ad aoentsaidpiston, and a'pair of tubularvalves in 'said piston' chamber and extending into saidrod, each ofsaid valves having a longitudinal slottherein and being adjustable independently of theother. 6.-In a shock absorber, the: combination of a pairof tubular valves, one of said valves being mounted in the other of an. valves, and each of said valves having a longitudina-l.

slot therein.

partition dividing saidjcasing into a reservoir chamber and a piston chamber, a' p ston re ciprocable in said piston Chamber, a hollow 1.. A shock-absorber having 'a c'asin'g adaptj piston rodextending from said piston to said I reservoir chamber, said rod having a port in' its side adjacentfs aid*piston, and a pair of tubular valves in said piston chamber and extendinginto said rod,each;of said valves having a longitudinal slot therein, and being adjustable independently of the other, and

the other end portion offsaid slot being tapered-towardtheother end of said slot. 7

' 8. In a shock absorbenthe combination ot a pair oftubular valves, onejwithin the other,

each of saidvalves having'a longitudinal slot therein, the sidewalls of the'middle portions of said slots being substantiallyparallel,and w an end portion ofoneof said slots being abruptly reduced. I i

9. In a shock absorber, the combination of a pair of tubular valves, onewithin the otherg each of said valves having a longitudinal slot a therein, thes-ide walls of the middle portions of sa'id slots being substantiallyparallel, and

an end portion of one of; said slots being abruptly reduced, and tapered toward said end.

therein, the side walls of the middle portions v of said slots being-substantially parallel, and one end portion of each of said slots being abruptly reduced and then" tapered toward said end 11; A shock 10. in ashes; absorber,{the eombinaiqn of a pair of tubular valves, one within the other, I each of said valves having a longitudinal slot absorber having a casing adapted to contain a fluid, a piston recipros cable in said casing, ahollow member integral withsaid piston and having-a port on one side of said piston, and a pair of tubular slotted 3 valves mounted in said casing on the other side of-said piston, one of said valvesextend ing adjacent said member to control the pas sage of fluid through said port, and the other ot said valves extending adjacent the firstmentioned valve to-control the passage of I fluid through the slots of said valves. j

12 A shook absorberhaving a casing adapted tocontain a fluid, a-i piston recipr'o cable in said casing, a'hollow member integral with said piston andhavinga port on one side 10f said piston," and}; ir of tubular slotted valves mounted insaid casing on the other is side ofsaidpiston, one of said valves extending adjacent'said member to control the passage of fluid through said port, and the other of said valves extending adjacent the first-mentioned valve to control the passage of-fluid through the slots of said valves,each

of said valves'being independentlv adju table. v 7 v ,13. A shock absorber having a casing adapted to contain a fluid, a piston reciprocableinsaid easing,ahollow'memberintegral} 7. A shock absorber having a cas1ng,'a

with said pistonand having a port on one side i A,

within the other of said valves, each of said valves having a longitudinal slot therein, the

I ends of said slots remote from said piston be- 1 saidmember to mg reduced, one of said valves through said port, and the other of said valves 7 serving to control the passage of fluid through said slots.

'14. A shock absorber having a casing adapted to contain a fluid, a piston recipro- 7 cable in said casing, a hollow member integral with said piston and having a port on one side of said piston, and a pair of tubular valves .mounted in said casing on the other side of .into said member to fluid through said port, andtheother of said valves serving to control the passage of fluid each of said valves being signature.

through said slots, independently adjustable.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix'my i LOUIS L. LOMAR.

extending into control thepassage of fluid, 

